Extreme Event is a crisis problem-solving game for groups of 12 or more players with a minimum age of 14 years old. Facilitators set up a room and time for participants, and games typically take about an hour to complete. Choose from three scenarios - hurricane, flood, or earthquake. Download all game materials from the site including PDF cards, sounds, and visual effects. The videos in the classroom activity section reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. You could always view them at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as Freemake Video Converter, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.

In the Classroom

Use the materials found on Extreme Event as a hands-on lesson in problem-solving, short and long term planning, and building community. Use an online tool such as Interactive Three Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast different strategies needed to solve problems in different crisis situations. Challenge students to create a brochure or newsletter sharing their findings. Are you integrating technology in your class? Instead of the traditional paper brochure use Lucidpress, reviewed here, or if you are more experienced use Sway, reviewed here, and create a newsletter. If you complete this activity with different classes, share results from the different games as part of your discussions on your problem-solving decisions.

This archived Twitter chat is from July 2016, and will open in Storify. View this archive to learn how to Start a School Makerspace from Scratch. Browse the tips and tools offered by the chat moderators and participants.

Magic Gopher is an entertaining math riddle game. Follow the instructions to select a two-digit number, add the digits then subtract that answer from the original number. Magic Gopher "guesses" the symbol located next to that final number.

In the Classroom

How does Magic Gopher guess correctly every time? Encourage students to discover the "trick" to his success. If you aren't sure, find the solution here. Take this math trick a bit further, will it work with 3-digit numbers? Challenge cooperative learning groups to create video explanations of the math behind Magic Gopher. If you are less experienced with technology use with your students, try a tool such as Powtoon, reviewed here. Those who are more experienced might try Stupeflix, reviewed here, and share them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here.

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional development session from August 2017, opens in Adobe Connect. Learn how to infuse Computational Thinking into your classroom activities across all core content areas. Computational Thinking prepares students to understand how to use today's digital tools to help solve tomorrow's problems. Most teachers are already teaching elements of Computational Thinking without knowing it. This workshop will help participants understand the fundamental tenets of Computational Thinking, most notably, how Computational Thinking combines critical thinking skills with the power of computing to make decisions or find solutions. Participants will learn strategies to incorporate computational thinking into classroom activities, brainstorm ideas with other educators for using those strategies in their content area, and begin planning a lesson. This session is for teachers at ALL technology comfort levels. As a result of this session teachers will: 1. Learn the fundamentals of Computational Thinking; 2. Explore activities and resources that promote Computational Thinking; and 3. Plan for the use of Computational Thinking in the classroom.

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

Shikaku Madness is a logic-based puzzle where you attempt to cover a grid with rectangles. Use the numeric clues on the grid to solve the puzzle. Tap and drag on the grid to create rectangles that don't overlap and contain the number of squares in the clue. Choose from four levels of difficulty when attempting puzzles.

In the Classroom

Shikaku Madness is an excellent addition to classroom bookmarks for practicing multiplication, working with arrays, developing problem-solving skills, and using logic. Encourage students to work up to the next level and become an expert in Shikaku. Share a link to the site on your class website for students to access at home. Encourage Shikaku "experts" in your class to share their methods for completing each puzzle with other students. Challenge students to create a video demonstrating their process in puzzle solving using a tool such as Screencast-o-matic, reviewed here, or Screencastify (Chrome app), reviewed here. Then share it using a tool like SchoolTube, reviewed here.

Khan Academy's Math for Fun and Glory offers an assortment of brain teasers, videos, and puzzles to stimulate interest in math. Choose from six different topics including doodling in math and math warmups, or explore staff picks of their favorites. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable. You could always view the videos at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.

In the Classroom

Use activities and videos from this site as brain teasers and to motivate student interest in math concepts. Create a link on your class website for students to view at home. Have them share their thoughts using an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Thinglink, reviewed here. Create a class wiki to share other fun math websites. Not comfortable with wikis? Check out the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through.

This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students learn about game-based learning and how to incorporate games into teaching and learning. Engage your students in the way they love to learn - games! Explore resources for quick practice or create your own games using these tools. Nurture problem solving, logic, and creativity.

In the Classroom

Share these tools on your class website or blog for students to use both in and out of the classroom. Use these tools to differentiate and reach all students at the various levels. Challenge your students to create their own games for review of content or acceleration options.

Create and share interactive content with Playbuzz. Browse through to find and participate in polls, quizzes, trivia, and much more. Additional free features include a Video Snaps tool for sharing portions of a video and Flip Cards. Create an account, then make content to embed and engage with other participants. Warning: this site contains content that is not moderated, be sure to view information before sharing with students.

In the Classroom

Share Playbuzz with students to create interactive classroom content. Have students create polls for favorite characters in books, use the Video Snaps tool to share significant portions of a video, or use Flip Cards in place of traditional flash cards. Create interactive content for your classroom lessons including trivia to introduce new lessons or create a Gallery Quiz to match images to clues. The possibilities are as unlimited as your imagination and those of your students!

Create a Flappy Bird game using drag and drop code, then save it to your phone to play over and over! Follow the 10 step directions to add code to your workspace as you make your bird fly toward a target, give directions for the end of game results, and edit actions and speed of the game. When finished, share games via URL or social networking links. The intro video resides on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the video may not be viewable. You could always view the video at home and bring it to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as Freemake Video Converter, reviewed here, to download the video from YouTube.

In the Classroom

Use Flappy Code as an interesting way to introduce coding to your class. Display Flappy Code on your interactive whiteboard or projector as you progress through the steps to code a game, then have students create and explore on their own. After school clubs and activities can use Flappy Code to learn to code. Use this tool with gifted students for a great challenge. Set up a coding activity center for interested students when they finish class work or for rainy days and snow days. Share this link on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom.

Can you guess the secret location? Explore landmarks from all over the world and try to guess the country where you are located. Begin by choosing your interests from categories such as history or entertainment. Begin play, but think quickly! Choose the correct location of each image within 12 seconds before it is marked wrong. As you select an answer, information is provided about the location of the correct response.

In the Classroom

Where in the World? is a great activity to play together on your interactive whiteboard when you have a few extra minutes of class time. Explore famous landmarks from the comfort of your room. Share the locations using Google Earth, reviewed here.

Novel Engineering offers an integrated approach to teaching engineering with literacy. Learn about it through the short video on the home page. To find ideas, select the "BOOKS" link at the top of the page. Choose from several well-known books to find the engineering problem(s) in the book and possible solutions from students.

In the Classroom

Don't let the simple look of this site fool you; this is an excellent resource for incorporating STEM topics into your reading activities. Use ideas from this site with the literature suggested, then come up with your own ideas for any other selection of literature. If you are beginning the process of integrating technology, have students create blogs sharing their learning and understanding using Telegra.ph, reviewed here. This blog creator requires no registration. Have students or groups collect ideas and findings using Padlet, reviewed here. The Padlet application creates free online bulletin boards.

Create personalized crossword puzzles to embed on your blog or website with this easy puzzle creator. View the help for the directions and examples. It is as simple as typing a question on each line followed by an asterisk, then the correct answer. When complete, submit to view your puzzle online and choose from different options for sharing. Also, you can download puzzles as PDF documents.

In the Classroom

Create puzzles for any subject or topic for review or introduction to new materials. Allow students to create puzzles for other students to solve. Add a puzzle to the classroom newsletter or blog to create interest. Share puzzles on an interactive whiteboard for students to solve together.

The Four Color Problem is a logic and strategy game. Take turns coloring a portion of the map with another player (the computer). Use only the color highlighted for your turn. Two portions next to each other can't have the same color. The player with the highest area covered wins, continue playing as long as you keep winning.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Share The Four Color Problem on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Allow students to play at a math center. Challenge students to see how many levels they can play before losing. Have students share strategies for winning as part of their math journal entries.

Solvemall offers a large variety of online crossword puzzles. Choose from a new daily starter puzzle each day or scroll down to find popular sets. In addition to the daily puzzle, most days also have a special topic puzzle such as inventors or musicians. Simply fill in each space on the puzzles with your responses and check when finished to view results. Solve blocked puzzles and collect points by creating a free account.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Share the puzzles on your interactive whiteboard or projector to play as a class. Use as a learning center or for rainy day recess. Create a link to the puzzles on classroom computers or your class website. Crosswords are a great find for use with gifted students to practice logic and problem-solving skills. Challenge students to create their own crosswords using a tool like Eclipse Crossword Creator, reviewed here, or Just Crosswords, reviewed here.

Visit the redesigned Patent Office KIDS! web pages featuring young inventor profiles, new activities, and videos. Find contests, links, videos, and more to help kids of all ages learn about trademarks and patents, and the importance of intellectual property creation and protection. The invention and design focus of most of the activities makes for perfect STEM and "maker space" lessons. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. You could always view them at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.

In the Classroom

Whether an elementary, middle, or high school teacher you'll find lesson plans for building model rockets, a mechanical grasper, how sound travels, and more. Use an interactive whiteboard or projector and start by viewing the video on the home page titled Extraordinary Innovations; there is a thorough lesson plan with a cool extension that includes ideas for creating a new toy or piece of sports equipment based on a favorite. The lesson plan extension has students create a timeline for the invention of the snowboard. Why not make this an interactive timeline with music, photos, videos, and more using Capzles, reviewed here?

Curiosity Machine connects scientists and engineers with young people to help design and create projects together. Create an account to begin using features on the site. Discover challenges to build on your own, including categories such as aerospace, robotics, engineering, and more. Find inspiration by watching videos of scientists and engineers sharing their inventions. Share your finished projects as inspiration for other aspiring engineers and scientists.

In the Classroom

Be sure to take advantage of the free educator units offered with membership. Share project ideas with students as ideas for a school science or engineering fair. Share this site with students interested in exploring careers in science or engineering. Encourage students to use a visual blogging tool such as Check This, reviewed here, (no registration required) to document their progress while completing projects. Have gifted students choose projects from the site to complete as enrichment within different learning units.

If you like games and puzzles, Bojagi is for you! Draw a rectangle around each number on the grid by dragging your mouse. The rectangle should show the area of the number on the grid. All numbers should have a rectangle without any overlap when finished with this activity. Once you have learned how to play, create your own rectangles or choose new activities from the list.

In the Classroom

Bojagi is excellent for use on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) or as a classroom center to practice area and multiplication facts. As students become more proficient, create your own games with larger grids, or have students create games for classmates to play.

Strimko Puzzles provides a wide variety of sudoku-type puzzles for online play or download. Click the play link below any puzzle, and then choose a difficulty level to begin. Use links at the bottom corner of each puzzle to restart, show the solution, and read directions on how to play. Choose download to receive a PDF with all three difficulty levels of a puzzle to print.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Share the Strimko Puzzles on your interactive whiteboard or projector to play as a class. Use as a math center or for rainy day recess. Create a link to the puzzles on classroom computers or your class website. Strimko Puzzles are a great find for use with gifted students to practice logic and problem-solving skills. Challenge students to work through each difficulty level of the puzzles.

Bill's Games offers a variety of free online activities and puzzles. Although this site is "plain vanilla," there are classic activities that offer challenges for all ages. Scroll through the home page to find puzzles, board games, mazes, and word games. Each activity includes directions for play and many offer options for difficulty levels.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Share and demonstrate the activities on an interactive whiteboard. Create a link on classroom computers to use as a center. Challenge students to increase difficulty levels in games and activities. Ask students to journal about their problem-solving process when playing games and activities.

The Griddle offers a small selection of math and logic puzzles. Choose from puzzles for younger students including Sudoku and Number Soup. For older students check out a Sudoku or Conflict Graphing puzzle. Click the name of each puzzle to go to the link for the PDF download. Other downloads are multiplication charts in black and white or color with options for including numbers or using blank charts. The Arithmetic Worksheet Generator provides a large number for creating customized worksheets, be sure to read the instructions at the bottom of the page on how to change the type of problems and locations on the worksheet.